Abstract

Hugo and Andrew were two of the most costly hurricanes to hit the United States in recorded
history. They occurred within a time of three years in 1989 and 1992, respectively. The levels
of damage were disproportionately high when compared with past hurricanes of comparable
strength. Residential communities, in particular, were most severe. This report documents and
compares the nature and causes of structural damages inflicted by these two events.
The damage nature was found to be very different. Hugo inflicted very severe water damage on
residential structures along the coastal belt spreading over one hundred miles in length. Damage
by Andrew, on the other hand, was almost exclusively caused by high wind intensity.
Accordingly, the structural damage modes were quite different. A case of reversing the roles of
Hugo and Andrew was examined to call attention to the potential hazard of coastal communities. (Document has 70 pages.)

Item Type:

Monograph or Serial Issue

Title:

Andrew versus Hugo - damages to residential communities

Personal Creator/Author:

Creators

Email

Wang, Hsiang

Series Name:

UFL/COEL

Number:

93/001

Date:

1993

Publisher:

University of Florida, Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering Department